Insane parking behaviour - intentionally blocked in

[sadkittymum]

I was coming back to my car last night after a shift at work (I’m a vet). The branch I was at does not have a car park, so I was parked on the road next to the practice. I’ve been parking on this road for over a year with no issues, but it is busy as it is also next to a school. I parked my car in front of someone’s house, however no part of my car was over the dropped kerb, and I was in no way restricting access onto their drive. I was behind another car.

Upon my return, the owner of the house that I was in front of had moved their car so it was directly behind mine (the bumper was, and I am not at all exaggerating, 5cm from the back of my car). She had specifically moved her car (leaving her own drive clear of a car, and now parking her car to block her own drive), to do this. This left me completely blocked in as there was also a car in front of me.

Not knowing what to do, I went to knock on the door and I could see that the woman had gone upstairs and was not responding to me at the door. I even knocked on neighbours doors to try to get some help! After about 15 minutes of this, another member of the house arrived home in his car, so I approached him and said the car blocking me needed to be moved. It was also preventing him from getting on his own drive! The woman came out, and said nothing at all other than ‘I’m only moving this to allow him on the drive’.

I really really regret not saying anything but I just was so glad to get in my car and drive away from there. I’m only 25 and very non confrontational and this was a middle aged couple! Surely it cannot be legal to do this - what if I had had an emergency and I was stuck? I was parked on a public road not obstructing them!

Pretty sure I am not being unreasonable, but is this something that people do???

I find it wild people buy houses next to a school/businesses and then get upset people park on the road. I was told I needed to move once picking up my daughter as I was in “their space” by someone in one of a row of new builds immediately opposite a 100+ year old school. It’s similar to the people who live on our pedestrian street and get in a rage the back lane is sometimes blocked for deliveries or by workmen’s vans. It is irritating but it’s hardly disastrous

This is not correct. You can get a ticket for parking across any dropped kerb even your own. There are circumstances where you can get a special sort of residents parking permit called a dropped kerb waiver to park across your own dropped kerb.

They are entitled and she wanted to make a point and try to keep a public space free for the second car.

If it happens again take lots of photos and call 101. Not a fan of the note through the door suggestion - she could accuse you of harassment. Definitely don’t disclose where you work.

Horrible bullies though. So unnecessary

Sadly if all the posts on MN are anything to go by, this is a completely common occurrence. Can you get a ‘vet on call’ sign to put on your dash/stick to rear window so that they understand that there may be implications to blocking you in and take a moment before behaving like dicks?

It's annoying, but people have to get on with it. Nobody owns the public road outside their house. As long as driveways aren't being blocked, residents need to suck it up!

I agree! It really is embarrassing.

Why would you be embarrassed by views that random people post in an anonymous internet forum, no matter how potty they are?

This happens on my road as there’s only on street parking and due to trees only one space outside ours so our son parks across the road and the mum and daughter park one in front and one behind about an inch from his bumpers so he can’t get out.
If he knocks their door they both “claim” to be drinking so can’t get behind the wheel every single time which is clearly just lies.

They probably see the space as "their space" and get fed up of randoms turning up for the vets practice parking there so that they have to park somewhere else.

You're incorrect. You can park across your own dropped kerb. Traffic Management Act 2004 Section 86 (3)

Apply for a dropped kerb waiver
If you live in a CPZ and have a dropped kerb you require a Dropped Kerb Waiver to park across your dropped kerb. You cannot park across your dropped kerb with any other permits or a Blue Badge/disabled badge holder's permit.
A dropped kerb waiver allows you to park across only your own dropped kerb ( not a shared dropped kerb) but does not allow you to park across other dropped kerbs or resident parking bays.

www.lbbd.gov.uk/parking/parking-permits/apply-dropped-kerb-waiver

It depends on the area, I think. In Fife parking across your own drive doesn't contravene regulations.

So far as other cars are concerned, the police will attend if your car has been blocked in your own driveway, but not if you're blocked out.

I had this once - completely blocked in when I was legally parked.
After unsuccessfully asking around and not finding the owner, I took matters into my own hands.
I put my car in low gear, released the handbrake gently, and shoved the other car out of the way using my car to push it.
It only worked because I was behind the other car, so my wheels were aligned with theirs. It won't work if the other car is at right-angles to yours.
Their car moved a few feet, as their hand brake couldn't stand up to the force of my engine. Then I drove off.
Don't regret it at all.

So if the branch of vets you work at doesn't have a car park, how do the customers or other staff get parked? I would flag that as a major issue.

It’s only illegal if there is a car on the drive. The offence is blocking access to a public highway. So technically if that woman moved her car back to block her drive after her husband had parked on the drive, she would be committing an offence. I don’t think it’s a police matter - mostly the local authority’s problem.

Next time, tell them you have bought the piece of road you have parked on and it's for your exclusive use. When they point out that can't be true, agree with them.

People like this are knobs, assuming there were no yellow lines. They dont own the road outside their house. When someone parks right up against me like this I refuse to accept that I can't get out, I drive right up to their bumper and then start a 33 point turn to get out. You'd be amazed how quickly they'll move their car.

Keep parking there and do this.

I am so sorry this happened to you. People are so weird and territorial. I’ve just had words with a man who thought my dog had cocked his leg up his bin. My dog hadn’t and I clarified this but the guy then went on a rant about how dogs keep weeing on his bin and why can’t dog owners walk on the other side of the road!!! As I was standing there with him, he’s spraying some liquid along his garden fence and wouldn’t tell me what the liquid was. These people have very empty lives and they enjoy curtain twitching. They whip themselves up over nothing.

No, you can’t. The driveway itself is private property, but the road outside it is a part of the public highway, and you have to follow traffic regulations. So parking across your own dropped kerb is fine if there is no car on your driveway. If there is, then technically you are committing the offence of blocking access to a public highway and liable to a fine of up to £90 if you’re spotted by authorities. Unfortunately l now know this from personal experience.

p.s Thank you for helping animals!!

Road tax doesn’t exist anymore it’s vehicle excise duty and has nothing to do with roads it’s a duty on emissions.

Something similar happened to me a few years ago - in desperation I rang the police as I was going to be late for a medical appointment - they were very helpful and sent a policeman to the car owners house to get them to move their car - I didn’t even wait that long

Tell her you’re calling the police next time and if she doesn’t move, call the police.

She was an utter dick.

Good! How did the people react?